DOMAIN BOARD.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12851, 9 July 1907, Page 4

DOMAIN BOARD.

The Domain Board met yesterday afternoon. Present—Messrs H. J. Beswick (chairman), S. A. Staples, H. P. Murray-Aynsley, W. McMillan, and H. Cooper. Mr Cooper moved that the Board engage a sawyer and steam engine to cut up their surplus trees for sale. Ho thought that in this manner thoy might dispose of their timber much moro profitably than waa the case at present.

Mr Murray-Aynsley seconded tho motion, which was adopted. The Chairman said that ho had obtained the following information from tho local authorities of the cost of domains and parks in other cities:— Dunedin—Out of general account, whole cost of maintenance of reserves under control, £3300; Auckland domain and forest reserves, from general account, £1370; maintenance of four parks and sundry small reserves, cost ty> _gener.il account, £2700; total, £4070; Wellington, six recreation grounds, out of gen-era J account, £fc2oo; a loan of £27,000 had just been authorised for four additional grounds. The Chairman pointed *out that in every case the amount spent waa much more than thct devoted to the Christchurch Domain. Mr .Staples said that the local position would never be satisfactory till the Board obtainod rating powers from Parliament. Mr J. Dawes, tho head gard-encr, said that he had been informed that it cost £000 a j-eur to keep iv order Albert Park, in Auckland, which was much smaller than the cultivated portion of the Christchurch Gardens. Leave of absence for tho session -was given to members of tho Board who aro also members of Parliament. The head gardener reported that he had reinstated all the former workmen. Ihe following persons had presented plants and seeds:—Mr H. J. Beswick, Mr Lough, Mrs A. MurrayAynsley, Mr Davis, Mr John -Studholme, Messrs .Sutton and Sons, and Mr Buxton. A» vote of thanks was passed to donors.

the head gardener also reported that he had received a letter from Dr. Charles Chilton, asking that a run-all portion of ground should be allotted for educational aad experimental purposes. He quito agreed* that this Was an essential, but other than ordinary work could not be undertaken unless special funds were provkfcd. Dr. Chilton thought that there would bo no difficulty in finding these. The report was -adopted. Pursuant to notice, a motion was moved and carried, rescinding a resolution which debarred the Board from di awing ou endowment funds, and it was decided to apply to the commiasioners to allot sufficient of the debentures to realise £600 for improvements to the Domain.